What are my chances?

[nfored]

What are my chances on 15 guppies making it? 5 males 10 females. From past experience if the fish make it 2 hours past introduction they get left alone, excluding one death that occurred a few weeks after the introduction. Normally when the fish hit the water its a race between them and my Oscar, If the make it to the caves before he makes it to them they are fine.

not "Planning" on adding these fish, but would sure love to have a school of something. The catch is it needs to be a school of small fish so not to take up to much room. If I can get a school I would first setup a nice java moss floor or other such vegetation for them to relax in.

I am afraid that they are just too small, the other new fish where like 1.5 to 2" when I added them. While they got chanced the first couple hours, I think they where to large to easily fit in the other fish mouth; this would not be he case with guppies.

Current Tank mates

1x 7" Oscar
2x 7" Bala Sharks
1x 5" Texas Cichlid
1x 3" Firemouth Cichlid
1x 3" Jack Dempsy
2x 2" Jewled Cichlids
1x 5" Rainbow Shark

 

[pwmin]

not very good on the guppies. i would just get enough balas to make a nicer group

 

[nfored]

Well there is room in the tank today, and I have long wanted 2 or 3 more bala's I fear the future. looking at my stock list and my tank size I see it being crowed already, or am I just being over cautious.

There are two types of fish keepers. Those that see the tank as it is in front of them and disregard the potential growth of their live stock. And those that see the tank for what it is and what it will be.

I am a member of the latter, part of the joy is watching the fish swim, if its so crowded they cant swim you loose some of the joy IMHO.

I kinda figured I wouldn't have a chance, but just thought I would see if anyone has seen anything crazy like this work.

 

[White Moth]

I've kinda had experience with this lately. I had a 65G with a school of white clouds. I decided to change it up and added 3 australian bass. These guys are definantly predators. The bass are only about 2inches long and my school of clouds gets smaller every day.

I'd say the guppies that don't get eaten straight away will be fine, until the oscar gets hungry again. I reckon they will have pretty short futures!

 

[nfored]

Thats about what I figured.

 

[pwmin]

Well there is room in the tank today, and I have long wanted 2 or 3 more bala's I fear the future. looking at my stock list and my tank size I see it being crowed already, or am I just being over cautious.

There are two types of fish keepers. Those that see the tank as it is in front of them and disregard the potential growth of their live stock. And those that see the tank for what it is and what it will be.

I am a member of the latter, part of the joy is watching the fish swim, if its so crowded they cant swim you loose some of the joy IMHO.

I kinda figured I wouldn't have a chance, but just thought I would see if anyone has seen anything crazy like this work.

i understand, but adding a few more balas won't hurt and they are good food clean-up fish and also balas should be in a bigger group...like at least 5 if you can

 

[SkySouza]

I have a 240 Gal frontosa tank with eight 8-13" frontosa. My frontosa are strictly bottom dwellers. They spend 90% of their time on the tank's floor and really only come up for feeding. Most the time my tank looks empty. I decided to buy 20 black moscow guppies with the hope that they'll reproduce fast enough to out live any predation. Haven't lost any yet. Just got the guppies today. I'm hoping it'll work. Frontosa are one of the largest natural predators of their lake, however, in my 3 yrs of keeping them (4 of the 8 are wild) I have noticed little to no aggression. I've never kept an oscar but I've seen them tear up a number of feedersm I wish u the best of luck. As cruel as this may sound give it a shot. Worst case scenario ur out 20 bones. Tough sh*t

 

[SkySouza]

any updates?

 

[nfored]

Well as a test I dropped 4 feeders in just to see. Gone with in seconds, The Oscar grabbed two in one swoop almost, the Texas grabbed one; even the 3.5" Jack Dempsey grabbed one.

I think that any fish I got would have to be to big to fit in the mouth of any of the 3 larger Cichlids. I noticed that any time I add a fish both the Oscar and Texas chase it mercilessly for the first hour. If it survives that they leave them be.

Funny story though, My jewels who are in breeding mode bucked up and almost got ate up. The Oscar was just hanging out minding his own business next to the caves, the jewels have claimed as theirs. Well one of the jewels came out and bit the Oscar in the tail, the Oscar turned around and snapped back faster then I ever saw him move. The only thing that saved the jewels life was the caves, he was close enough to the cave he was able to bit and run back in.

Its so funny to see this 2.5" fish try to take on a 7" or 8" Oscar. A true to life poodle vs Pit bull, the puddle thinks he is the pit bull, the pit bull just as peaceful as they come until challenged.

 

[ugyfd301]

GGIS- Guppies Gone In Seconds!!!! LOL... I have a group of 11 Black Widow Tetras in with my medium cichlids. I used them to cycle the tank and have not had a problem yet and it's been a couple months. As you know, all fish are different and you never really know what will happen when mixed. You could try something like the Tetras and see. Good luck!